In the books “The Doryman’s Reflection” and “Swimming in Circles,”
ex-commercial fisherman turned author Paul Molyneaux tells the sad story
of the decline of small family owned and operated commercial fishing
operations, as he experienced it. In the old days, commercial fishing
was the realm of small family operations and knowledge was passed down
from generation to generation. Little by little, these traditional
fishing businesses were forced out of business by huge operations dubbed
“factory fishing.” The traditional fishermen had great knowledge of the
sea and the fish within. They would always leave enough of a species,
so its populations would replenish by the next season. Factory fishing,
driven by Wall Street investment and ethics, as well as the need to show
a quarterly profit, would maximize the number of fish taken without
letting the population rebound. Small, family owner fishing operations
declined.It is reassuring to see that there are still some stores that sell all the marine hardware that traditional fishermen have always used. They carry rope, chains, shackles, nets and traps. You can find everything you need for a small shrimping or crabbing operation. There is still a place in the world for small independent fishing operations.
